June 21, 1871
In the wake of to-day's revealing, albeit devastating events, it seems only appropriate that I begin this entry by describing those maddening visions of that ancient battlefield that encumbered my slumber. There I stood among the familiar war-torn countryside, overlooking the troves of bodies and smoldering cinders. Then I saw something unfamiliar. Those that lay strewn and dead in my previous nightmares were clad in gleaming armor and held battleaxes and long swords at their sides. The men on this battlefield were peasants, holding nothing more than crudely finished spears and daggers, and banners of unfamiliar coats.
The sky was scorched with red fire. Poisonous black smoke swallowed the horizon. Then the ground beneath me quaked. I slowly turned around and perceived a vast Roman city ravaged by wild inferno. Atop this hill-bound metropolis stood a temple whose contents shimmered with brilliant emerald green! I knew what lay up there. I was drawn to it. Before I could step forward, a deafening roar shattered the solemn environs. I quickly turned back towards the horizon and beheld a colossal serpentine figure undulating behind the smokey vapor. I was horrified. My eyes bulged with terror. Then a hand grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.
"Vos!" It screamed. It was He, cloaked in a hooded robe. His face, though obscured by shadow, appeared to be that of a man's. "Non vos pertinent hic!" it howled.
"What are you?" I yelled back.
"Exire confestim!" it roared as it lunged out at me, revealing its grotesque visage! It had a twisted smile, irate green eyes, and misshapen horns protruding from its elongated skull. It reached out with its crooked talons and placed its palm over my mouth. "Ego mittam te retro de quo egressus es," it softly spoke.
"No!" I yelled.
"Chaos Imperium!"
I leaped out of the chair from which I slept in, poised to attack my aggressor only to grasp that I was no longer in my lurid vision.
"Charles!" a familiar voice called out. "Charles!"
My body was still shaking from the nightmare. I ran out onto the laboratory floor and saw Wernicke charging down the passageway, yelling, "The culprits! The culprits! We have them!"
Amadeus had already thrown on his jacket. "Where?" he barked.
"About six or so miles south!"
"The Emerald Hill?" he clarified.
"I suppose we will be having that battle of yours," I remarked.
I quickly sprang into the office where Adam resides. He was not activated, though, I felt as though he was ever vigilant and aware of my actions. On the desk beside him was the sword Excalibur. I felt the untamed urge to wield it high above the clamoring swords of battle. The possession never occurred, yet somehow, I felt the strength of the sword's influence enchant my virtue. If there ever existed a chance to rectify my errors, the opportunity was then, at that striking moment. I ran out of the office with the sword at my side.
"Let us ride!" I yelled. A rather pleasing smirk grew on Amadeus' chin.
We hastily rode off. In the time it took for Wernicke to inform us of Stripe's progress, and for us to acquire a horse, I estimated that Stripe had been an hour into his engagement, perhaps more.
"What are your plans for when we get down there?" Amadeus asked as we made haste for our horses.
"I have not thought that far ahead!" I admitted.
"Dear God, what have I gotten myself into?" Wernicke sarcastically expressed.
The three of us rode hard into the red, orange, and yellow milieu of the rising coastal sun. When we arrived at the Emerald Hill, the sun peaked over the mountaintops, setting the sky ablaze with an orange and yellow tapestry of colors. We left our horses a quarter of a mile away from the scene, but upon our arrival, we were curious to find that there were no outlaws, rather Stripe and his men sitting peacefully at the center of the depressed plain.
"What?" Wernicke quietly uttered aloud. "When I left, they were moments away from altercation."
"A trap, no doubt," Amadeus affirmed.
"Yes. They're expecting a rescue. They must have known you left," I added.
However, I noted something peculiar. Encompassing the men were mysterious tracks that were carved out from the ground. They were not crafted by any wheel or machine that I know of. Whatever monstrosity composed those tracks circled Stripe's party once or twice before moving north. It had not retreated. It lay in wait for us to emerge from our position. We were on the threshold of witnessing the very same atrocity that ravaged Indian country.
"I will be frank with you, gentlemen," I said. "Confrontation is inevitable. Whatever monstrosity we shall confront down there, do not lose focus on our duty."
"What are your plans?" Wernicke asked.
"I think I will improvise."
"We are as good as dead then," Amadeus muttered.
"Come now, General. You must have faith," I encouraged, gesturing to the sword. "Remain here."
I quickly moved out towards the party; the sword casually gripped within my hand. The scene was oddly tranquil. All I could hear were the gusts of cool ocean wind rustling the palm leaves. As I neared Stripe's party, I discerned a more accurate portrayal of the situation: the whole scene was indeed a ruse. Stripe and his men were tightly bound at the hands and ankles with rope.
"Charles?" Stripe yelled out. "What in God's name are you doing here? It is an ambush!"
"Where is Wernicke?" Dogge barked.
"Behind me, safely behind the brush of the trees," I whispered. "I know it is an ambush."
"Then why are you here?" Stripe asked.
"I cannot leave you!"
"What is your plan, then?" Long snarled.
"To improvise?"
"We are as good as dead," Dogge grimly muttered.
I swung the sword and unfettered the men from their bonds. It was then that I took notice of the puddles of thick black liquid that were allocated inside the tracks.
"Come, this way!" Dogge bayed as he gestured southward.
"Wait, north is our refuge," I said. "It is much too obvious for them to leave tracks indicating their point of attack. If we head south, we will be attacked!"
"He is right," E'Lscale affirmed.
"I hope you know what you are doing," Stripe urged.
"I believe I do… I think," I said.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. I watched the gulls flee from their canopy homes. The tranquility of the landscape was broken. From the south, we watched the brooding sight of toppling palms draw closer and closer. That thunderous quaking – that most unpleasant clamor! It was fearsome and meant to unnerve us. Then, like a monster emerging from the blanket of night, it presented itself, plowing through the palms with its colossal drill, and tumbling down the hillside with considerable speed. At that precise moment, I beheld the steel beast. It was grotesque.
"Improvise, huh?" Dogge barked.
"Follow my lead," I insisted.
It was now or never, as one would assume. The beast gathered speed as it charged right at us. Before we could respond, a most awesome exhibit of fire and sound occurred. The steel monstrosity came to a sudden arrest. White arrows of compressed steam erupted from the base of the drill as it spun wild with fervor. Then, an explosion! The entire drill blew off of the vehicle's front, spinning right at us with frightening velocity!
"Rocket!" I yelled.
"Duck for cover!" Stripe yelled out.
We threw ourselves out of the way; the drill soaring over our heads in a mesmerizing display. It struck the ground with such vigor, that dirt sprayed up into a crest, producing a brown curtain from which we could not render. Then, from the clouds, the monstrosity charged us.
"Run!" Dogge screamed.
"Head for the hills!" I called out.
Stripe and his men complied. I, instead, ran at the drill, which was embedded deep into the ground. I intended to jump on it, ascend its side, and hop atop that monstrosity, but when I leaped, I must have impelled myself nine or ten feet high into the air before falling to the summit of the drill! It was an impossible maneuver. I saw the monstrosity pivot a hard right at Stripe.
'Come on, Charles, you can do this,' I urged myself.
I took a few steps back, ran, and threw myself another ten feet into the air, landing atop the monstrosity's platform. I gained my steadiness. When we neared the eastern foothill, a surge of masked men poured into the basin with their swords drawn.
"Ambush!" I yelled.
"Spread out!" Stripe roared.
He grabbed Dogge and threw himself to the right, whilst Long and E'Lscale darted off to the left. The monstrosity veered hard left, nearly tossing me off the platform. Stripe drew his saber out and engaged the army. He had dodged every blow, blocked every attempted swing, and rendered most of his attackers immobile.
Now it was that iron monstrosity and I. It had coursed along the boundary of the basin. I gripped Excalibur, ready to drive it through the vehicle's hatch, but before I could swing draw it, the hatch sprung open, and a man climbed out. He stood roughly six-foot-seven, with sharp blue eyes, colossal shoulders, and a barrel chest. Beneath his tangled mustache, he held a vicious, perverted grin. He threw his fist at me! I rolled to the right, barely avoiding the spinning jagged wheels. The monstrosity abruptly turned right towards the cliffs, tossing me back towards the brute. He began kicking my stomach, and then as he readied to crush my head in with his boot, I kicked his knees in. He did not founder, but I had enough time to quickly make for Excalibur. But the brute grabbed my coat, flipped me over, and pummeled me into the platform. It took the breath from my lungs. I was coughing and wheezing, trying to breathe. The brute grabbed me again and hurled me over the edge of the monstrosity. I reached out for the only thing I could... a small railing, which came perilously close to the serrated wheels. The monstrosity engaged in a sudden pivot, and before I knew what was happening, the ground below me had plunged, and I could see that I was hanging over a cliff. The brute had picked Excalibur up, and held it high into the air, ready to deliver the fatal exercise upon me.
"The sword is mine," he snarled with intensity.
I closed my eyes, ready to accept my fate, but instead, I lifted myself with all my strength, flying high into the air, and over the head of my latent executioner! I gained the platform!
"I guess I am still here," I teased. The brute swung the sword at my head, but I ducked in time. "You have to be quicker than that." He swung once more, but I dodged. "I do not think you are trying anymore, son."
He took three more swings, but I was too quick. He then swiftly jabbed the sword forward, hoping to strike my chest, but I leaped clear over his head.
"Impossible!" the brute yelled.
I landed safely on my feet beside the hatch. "All's fair in love and war, my friend."
The monstrosity had steered away from the cliffs and headed towards the foothill again. Just then, I was struck down at the knees by one of the drivers who had opened the hatch. I kicked him away, but I could not regain my footing. The brute lifted me and hurled me off the platform. I hit the ground hard but sustained no noticeable injury. The monstrosity came to a shrieking halt, about ten yards away. I was on my knees, trembling. The army had encircled us. I lifted myself and saw the others, including Amadeus and Wernicke, had been captured.
"I have your sword now," the brute exclaimed. "Ready the cannon. Kill the professor, spare the others," he ordered.
The cavity from which the drill was ejected was, in fact, an enormous gun barrel, but I anticipated this.
"Ready!" the brute yelled.
The monstrosity aligned itself with my eyes. Behind me, the masked men readied their pistols and swords.
"Charles, what are you doing?" Stripe asked.
"I have waited for this moment for a long time," the brute snarled. "Fire the cannon!"
In that instance, a stream of black oil erupted from the monstrosity, but I was too quick. I leaped into the air as the stream of oil propelled itself into the enemy phalanx. I jumped as high as I could, maybe twenty feet into the air, and landed right back onto the platform.
"I am afraid you will have to wait a little longer," I said to the brute.
He swung the sword at my neck. I ducked in time to avoid the blade. I made for my waistcoat pocket and drew my pistol just as he prepared for another swing. Then, as he pulled his arm back for that final blow, I had him at the end of my pistol barrel.
"Checkmate," I sneered.
Wernicke, freed from his ropes by Long, climbed atop the platform and fired his revolver into the air. Then, a horde of uniformed men poured into the basin from all directions. The masked outlaws surrendered instantly. Among the men, to my astonishment, was Sherman Odie, who had lightly saluted to me.
"Before I came to retrieve you all," Wernicke explained, "I made a slight detour."
"You lost," I told the brute.
Amadeus had freed himself from his binds. He too drew his pistol at the brute. "This is Amadeus Prower of the United States Army; relinquish the sword! You are under arrest for conspiracy and attempted murder!"
In due time, the scene was under control. And though the brute was detained, along with the others inside the monstrosity, his striking eyes and quivering sneer haunted me. He kept his cold gaze upon me without hesitation.
"Your name?" Stripe commanded.
"Stryker. Son of Helmut von Stryker!" He spoke with a strange flux of Germanic and Southern drawl.
"Yes, of course. You are as much of an animal as he is."
"Was..."
"The flying machine – the wasp – was it yours?" I asked. Stryker smiled. "What does Colin want with the emerald?"
He kept silent but held his icy glare.
"What are his plans for SWAT?"
No answer. I took notice of an emblem that was woven into the lapel of his uniform. It was a brooding red caricature of a grinning mustached man.
"Why have you come here?" I asked.
He scoffed. "It is too late. Everything is already in place. You cannot stop it now."
"Listen here, and heed these words: you and Colin are no more in control of this conspiracy than you are of your fates. All of us are meager compared to that monster you so willingly abide by!" I saw that Stryker felt a chill curl up his spine. "You know him... I can see that you fear him. Please, we can help you, but you must take the first step. Please."
The men brought him to his feet. He stood shuddering in wholesome rapture, and proclaimed, "Mark these words, Doctor: men will fall to my feet. His ascension will be swift and soaked in the blood of those who resist him. His reign will be infinite and unstoppable! We are only just beginning! Hail the empire! Hail Robotnik!"